Boys’ youth rules and points of emphasis announced by @USLacrosse

US Lacrosse today announced the 2016 US Lacrosse Boys’ Youth Rules, including points of emphasis that promote safety and sportsmanship. The youth rules are based on age appropriate modifications made by the US Lacrosse Men’s Game Rules Subcommittee to the high school game rules authored by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

The NFHS announced its 2016 boys’ rule changes last month, and will publish its updated rulebook later this fall. The US Lacrosse Boys’ Youth Rules are included in the back of the NFHS rulebook.

“The rules subcommittee reviewed and adopted most of the NFHS rule changes that are being implemented for 2016,” said Eric Rudolph, chair of the US Lacrosse Men’s Game Rules Subcommittee. “We want to also note that the US Lacrosse points of emphasis for 2016 are in addition to those identified by the NFHS.”

While US Lacrosse endorses the points of emphasis in the 2016 NFHS boys’ rules, the additional points of emphasis for youth play in 2016 address violent collisions, slashing, the three-yard rule and sportsmanship.

Relative to violent collisions, the US Lacrosse rules state that ‘there is no justification for deliberate and violent collision by any player at any youth level, especially intentional player-to-player collisions with defenseless players (so-called “blind side” and “buddy-pass” checks), checks involving the head and/or neck, and excessive body-checks.’

The subcommittee also stated that there is a concern that slashing is too common in boys’ youth lacrosse. While no one-handed checks are allowed, the subcommittee also noted that the only permissible check with the crosse is on the opponent’s crosse or his gloved hand on his crosse. Any blow with the crosse anywhere else on an opponent is to be deemed slashing and should be called as such by officials.

Further, the three-yard rule states that all legal checks, holds or pushes must be on a player with possession of the ball or within three yards of a loose ball. This rule varies from five-yard allowance within the NFHS rules.

US Lacrosse Boys’ Youth Rules continue to require that players, coaches and spectators exhibit the highest level of sportsmanship at all times, and that game officials enforce the unsportsmanlike conduct rules without hesitation.

Coaches are urged to teach proper and legal checking techniques, and are also encouraged to model appropriate sportsmanlike behavior among players and others associated with the team, including spectators.

The overarching principle that guides the US Lacrosse Boys’ Youth Rules is that the game is to be played with emphasis on the proper development of individual stick skills, team play, player safety and sportsmanship.

The 2016 NFHS Boys’ Rules and 2016 US Lacrosse Boys’ Youth Rules are effective as of January 1, 2016.